To assess whether the combined vaginal-laparoscopic route may reduce the risk of postoperative bladder atony, when compared to an exclusively laparoscopic approach, in patients presenting with deeply infiltrating rectovaginal endometriosis with extensive vaginal infiltration.

Retrospective comparative cohort study using data prospectively recorded in the CIRENDO database.

Academic Tertiary Care Centre.

One hundred and thirty-two consecutive patients who underwent surgery of rectovaginal endometriosis with vaginal infiltration measuring greater than 3cm diameter.

Combined vaginal-laparoscopic versus laparoscopic approach.

Sixty-two patients underwent excision of endometriosis via a combined vaginal-laparoscopic approach (study group, or cases), while 71 patients underwent surgery via an exclusively laparoscopic route (controls). Rates of preoperative cyclical voiding difficulty and sensation of incomplete bladder emptying were comparable between the two groups. Preoperative urodynamic assessment was carried out in 18% of cases and 38% of controls, with abnormal results in 27.3% and 11.1% of cases and controls respectively. Early postoperative voiding difficulty (post-void residual>100mL) occurred in 14.7% and 24.3% of cases and controls respectively. There was a significant reduction in risk of intermittent self-catheterisation of 13% at time of discharge in the study cases. Three months postoperatively, one case and 6 controls had persistent voiding dysfunction requiring prolonged self-catheterisation.

The combined vaginal-laparoscopic approach for large rectovaginal endometriotic nodules could reduce the risk of postoperative bladder dysfunction, when compared to an exclusively laparoscopic approach, most likely due to a reduced risk of damage to the pelvic splanchnic nerves at the paravaginal level.